One: "First Blood"
You're jarred awake by a sudden jerk that rocks your entire 'Mech. Instinct takes over as your hands fly across the 'Mech's power-up sequence, the computer running over the obligatory list of systems that are now getting power. "Oh... you're awake." Comes a smooth voice over your radio, Mami's cute little twin drills appearing in your center MFD. You apologize for snoozing in, which only makes Mami laugh a little more "Don't worry about it. The others have already dropped, I was just waiting for you to wake before we began our own mission." Slapping yourself awake, you slowly pull out of the docking section you've backed into and look out the over the sandy plains of Zosma. "Our area of operation today is going to be a small city just a kilometer from here. While Goddess and the others are out on their own missions, you and I are going to be taking care of a little situation that's broken out amongst the Loyalist and Separatist Parties..." She pauses for a moment as the Hollander lumbers out of the Dropship, you in tow.
"About six months ago, there was a vote whether or not Zosma should remain in control of the Draconis Combine, or if it should become it's own power. The vote came back a dead heat, and the recount process has been slow to say the least. The group that want Zosma to separate, the Separatists, started protesting... the protests turned into riots, which inevitably turned into a full-blow terrorist action. Things remained fairly manageable by local police until the Separatists decided to take over one of the buildings in the city; a bank. The DC have called this a 'blatant terrorist attack', and have called us in to quell the uprising. Now, I'm sure you don't care about details or politics, so all you have to know is you and I both walk away with a cool quarter of a million C-Bills..." You notice that her 'Mech's shoulders have the Draconis Combine logo painted upon them, and you can only guess that yours do as well. Mami continues undeterred by your mental reverie. "...provided we can take care of this little bank issue. The 'terrorists' have taken control of the Inner Sphere Bank Building, at the far edge of the city. Initial recon by DC soldiers have reported that they're holed up on floors three, eight and ten... Those three floors are to be our targets. We walk away with an additional hundred thousand each if we can avoid destroying any other floors then those three." You nod a little and confirm that you understand the instructions. "That's not to say those'll be the only targets we'll have. DC Recon indicates that the Separatists might have a 'Mech or two, just to make the DC realize that they mean business... we're talking about a Commando, or maybe an Assassin or two, nothing the pair of us can't handle." Again, you nod.
"Don't feel bad about opening fire on anyone who takes a shot at you, alright? This isn't Tri-M anymore, they will kill you and not feel bad about it. At the end of the day, kiddo, you're just a number on a long line of numbers." Another nod from you brightens the smile on Mami's face. "Mmm, you are a chipper one, aren't you? Very well, we'll see if you're all talk, or if you do have the skills to back up your record." You and Mami are about a half kilometer away from the city when your radio blares a very ominous warning.
"Unknown 'Mechs, you are entering a Free Zosma Democracy area. Turn around, or we will be forced to open fire and destroy you." His voice is shaky, almost like he's being forced to speak these words. You defer to Mami to make her retort as you are, of course, on your trial run.
"FZD, this is Mami Tomoe of the Magi Mercenary Unit. My associate and I are here to quell this little terrorist action of yours. I will give you one; and only one, warning before we open fire. Shut down your 'Mechs, lay down your arms and return to your homes, or you will be fired upon."
"You would fire upon democracy!? Upon FREEDOM!? Truly, you Mercenaries have no honor."
"We only have one honor system here, that's money. So unless you plan on bribing us, shut down your 'Mechs and return to your homes, or prepare to be fired upon."
"No more warnings, Mercenaries! There's only two of them. Open fire!" Mami groans almost inaudibly, rolling her eyes a bit.
"Why do they always pick the hard way? Oh well. Did I mention we get a twenty-five thousand C-Bill bounty per kill? I might have. Safety off, kiddo, don't be afraid to fire." Her head goes down to her control panel and begins to push some buttons. "I don't know if I've told you this or not, kid, but there's a reason Goddess and I usually go together..." You continue to inquire why that is. "Because both of us can usually out-range most 'Mechs; destroying them before they get to us... I'll try to pick off as many as I can, but if they get too close, I need you to cover me." You confirm, which makes her smile again. "So cute when you nod..." A slight, unknown blush creeps across your cheeks as she says this. The pair of you continue to close in on the city and, before long, you see two little red blips appear on your radar. You sound off to Mami that you've got two contacts, and she nods. "Aye, I've got 'em too. One's a Cicada, and the other appears to be a – eesh... Salamander..." She pauses for a moment. "Ignore the Salamander, kid, that thing'll tear you to shreds. Focus-fire on the Cicada, then give me a hand with the Salamander... if he lives long enough." Hunkering down, you prepare for combat. You watch as a blue ball of electrical plasma streaks to your right, slamming into the Salamander. That seemed to have gotten the Salamander's attention, the heavier 'Mech turning to face Mami.
"It's just you and me, kid." Another voice comes over your radio, the Cicada pilot if you're to take a guess. You smile silently behind the cockpit of the Commando and target him. He seems to have a damaged left leg... maybe these terrorists haven't the means or manpower to maintain their 'Mechs... Regardless, you decide to use this to your advantage, cycling your 'Mech's targeting computer to it's left leg, you cycle to the SRM 4 in your left torso. It's not going to do a lot, but it might do enough damage to cripple it. You see a few red laser blasts streak across your cockpit and go wide... seems as though the Cicada's shooting at you. The green redicle in the center of your HUD flashes red, and your finger twitches, the tell-tale click of warheads priming precedes a volley of four short-ranged missiles leaving the tubes in your left torso.
The Cicada managed to dodge half of your missile volley, two missiles going wide as the other two strike the wounded leg. You watch the 'Mech visibly reel from the hit, it's right leg attempting to compensate for the loss. "Dammit! I thought you said our 'Mechs were fixed! That little fucker Mercenary just staggered me!"
"I thought they WERE fixed!" You hear the voice from before respond. Staying collected, you fire a triple burst from your three Medium Lasers, one misses while the other two connect with the wounded leg. There was a solid advantage in being a mercenary over a low-life terrorist. The second laser blast seems to have had a serious effect on the Cicada, the lighter 'Mech starting to turn away from you.
"God dammit... I can't fight like this! I don't believe in this enough to die for it!" You watch the top of the Cicada explode, a long trail of smoke rocketing towards the sky. He ejected.
"I hate to be a bother, dear... but would you kindly give me a hand with the Salamander?" Over her question, you hear the blatant siren indicating a critical hit. Turning your 'Mech around, you quickly cycle targets to the Salamander. Immediately, you can see the damage Mami's done to it, a generous heaping of ass-kicking applied to various parts of it's body. Throttling forward, you race to Mami's aid. Thankfully, you weren't too far away from the combat to be of use. You address the Salamander by dropping four SRMs into it's back, followed by a generous heaping of laser fire. Dozens of small laser bolts pepper the back of the Salamander as it locks onto Mami, a volley of fifteen long-range missiles leave one of it's arms. You watch as Mami fires a PPC blast down the center of the missiles, managing to detonate about twelve to thirteen of them, the remaining stragglers slamming into her torso.
"God dammit, you little slut! Stop doing that!" It was clear that Mami's tactics were starting to wear on the 'MechWarrior. "And you stop shooting me in the back!" You respond with a simple one-word response in the negative and continue to do so. "God damn Mercenaries! Why don't you fight fair?"
"Darling, didn't you learn anything in terrorist school?" Comes Mami's sarcastic and slightly bitchy response. "Mercenaries never fight fair." He begins to bring his 'Mech around to fire upon you, but a single PPC blast to the side causes him to re-target Mami. "No, darling. Shoot at me, now."
"Why won't you just fucking die!?" Mami chuckled at this.
"What kind of Senpai would I be if I died in front of my Kouhai?" The little hat on her head shifts as she cocks her head. "But enough out of you." The end of her Hollander's shoulder cannon glows a brilliant ice-blue as something charges. "Tell me, kid." She talks to you. "Do you know how to say 'last shot' in italian?" You shake your head, which brings a smile to her blonde face. "It's 'Tiro Finale'." Upon these words, the end of her cannon belches a shotgunned spread of three PPC blasts into the Salamander, shredding a massive hole in it's armor, breaching the reactor. The damaged left arm erupts into a dancing display of yellow and orange as flames ignite the missiles inside. The explosion spreads to it's torso before finally swallowing the cockpit whole. The pilot's last few words are cut out by static as the 'Mech falls on it's back from the force.
Mami still smiles as the 'Mech gives one last explosion before it finally goes quiet. Your eyes dart from the exploded Salamander to Mami's Hollander, it's left leg and right arm sparking, her leg a little limp. You debate whether or not to bring the subject up. "Would you do me a favor, please?" Mami speaks. "The bank building still has those floors we need to destroy... would you please correct that for me? This gun on my shoulder isn't very friendly towards navigating buildings."
Bullshit, you think. You're damaged and you don't want to admit it. Nontheless, you nod and turn towards the city, the main street leading into it's heart your access point. As you begin to enter the city, you bring up the damaged question to Mami. "Damaged?" She asks with a little chuckle. "Oh, no no." She continues. "I'm quite fine, thank you very much." You decide to drop it, because at this stage continuing to pry might not be within your best interest. Mami is an experienced 'MechWarrior, and knows when she's got too much damage. Besides, it's probably just a minor wound.
The Combine was nice enough to upload the location of the bank into your HUD, so you could find your way. You find it difficult to navigate the city without dealing excess damage to the surrounding buildings, neon signs and giant billboards take up most of the airspace in the city, making travel difficult. Turning around the corner of a particularly large building, you see your target, most of the ten floors devoid of any light, save for the exception of floors three, eight and ten... your targets. Looking at the ground, you see an array of people running into the building, probably to report that there's a 'Mech on the grounds. Just as this thought enters your head, windows on the eighth floor explode, as soldiers (at least you think they're soldiers... it's hard to tell with them being so small) begin to fire upon you.
Chink pink bing patah... Bullets begin to ricochet off your 'Mech's armor as they fire, their tiny machine guns doing no damage to your armor. You almost feel bad for the poor sods, but then realize that that kind of feeling is unbecoming of a Mercenary. With a pull of your finger, the SRM launcher in your torso fires four more missiles into the eighth floor, the missiles streaking into the open windows and explode, sending glass, steel and body parts raining down on to the ground below.
"Objective: Destroy Eighth Floor of the Inner Sphere Bank Building – Complete." Your mission computer tells you as you pan your 'Mech down to look at the third floor. Firing a few lasers into it, you wait for your missiles to recycle. Firing another salvo of four short-ranged missiles into the floor, more steel and glass bellows out of the windows, and your computer responds in kind. "Objective: Destroy Third Floor of the Inner Sphere Bank Building – Complete." Now, only the tenth floor remains...
As your SRMs load another four missiles into the tubes, you watch a helicopter take off from the top of the building. You try to get a bead on it, but between the buildings and how fast it's moving, you just can't seem to find a safe time to fire. So you do the next best thing. Inform Mami.
"Helicopter coming my way, huh? Civilian?" You shake your head. "Right, I'll take a look at it and flash it if needed." In the meantime, you set about your task of flashing the final floor of the Bank Building with another four SRMs.
"Objective: Destroy Tenth Floor of the Inner Sphere Bank Building – Complete. All Primary mission objectives – Complete. Return to dust-off site for extraction." Your computer chimes in it's droning tone.
"Excellent job, kid!" Mami smiles. "Start heading back to the drop zone, I'll flash this damn Helicopter... stay still!" You hear her finish as the sounds of a PPC reverberate through her cockpit. You watch a blue streak of plasma energy strike the hovering helicopter, the body exploding into a fountain of metal and glass, the rotor atop the cabin rocketing off it's spindle, spiraling out of control towards the ground. "Tiro Finale to the Mitakihara. The newbie and I are finished our job in the city, and are going to make our ways back. We're going to be taking it slow, so we can give the media a good shot of who saved their city." You roll your eyes at this, Mami making another pathetic excuse for her shot up 'Mech. You throttle up to catch up with her, then match her 'Mech's speed, the larger Hollander about a dozen or so meters larger then your own Commando. It's a comforting size difference, giving Mami the facade that she's the loving big sister showing her younger sibling the ropes of this thing called life.
Though she hides it rather well, you notice a hiccup in her 'Mech's movements, the left leg gimped slightly causing her to have an almost unnoticable limp. You can't help but notice the limp as the pair of you continue back to the dropship, your own speed matched to Mami's, though your 'Mech isn't limping... come to think of it, you're hardly damaged, just a Small Laser blast or two hitting your 'Mech center mass... hardly anything to be concerned with.
"Roger, Tomoe-san. The Mitakihara is on standby, awaiting your arrival. We just received word from Kaname-san, she says that she's about ten minutes away from completing their own mission, and Miki-san is on radio silent. Come on aboard and we'll fix you up."
"Oh Hitomi... I'm not damaged..." You practically loose it in your cockpit, telling her how she's limping and sparking, telling her that it's nothing to be ashamed of, that everyone gets shot here and there. You hear her answer, but over a fuzz in her radio, you can't quite make it out. You try to get her to repeat it, but she simply nods. "I'll not say it again." You sigh and shake your own head, tired of her keeping up this Ms. Perfect face. As your Commando and Mami's Hollander find their way onto the Mitakihara, you hear the gears and hydrolics that run the ramp pull it up.
"Hold on, you two. We're going to have to head over to Kaname-san's area of operation and pick her and Akemi-san." The name sends an unknown shiver down your spine.
"In the meantime." Mami starts, her 'Mech powering down. "What do you say you and I get something to eat. I'm getting a little hungry." Mami asks you, and you agree as your own 'Mech powers down, a technician rolling a ladder towards you so you can leave. Pulling the helmet off your head and setting it on the console, you climb down as the Mitakihara lurches upwards and begins to head for Madoka's location. "Good work today, kid." Mami speaks to you when you're within talking range, her hair bobbing in place as she bows. You tentatively thank her and respond that she's more to thank then you are, a line of dialogue that causes her to scoff. "Nonsense. All I did was distract the Salamander so you and the Cicada could play. I'm glad you invited the three floors of that bank building to join you." She gives a little smile, almost like the fact you just killed countless people doesn't affect her. You tentatively bring this up.
"After a while, kid..." She answers as she climbs the metal stairs towards the living area of the dropship. "After a while, people dying just... don't affect you anymore. Look at it this way, kid... if you're good in this profession... as long as there's two people left in the universe, someone's going to want someone else dead." She speaks frankly, and you're inclined to believe that she's speaking from the heart. If you didn't believe it yourself, you're in the wrong profession. She opens the elevator for you and hold it for you, allowing you to slip right in behind her. "But after that... I admit that I don't feel... completely right doing it. As people, we're not supposed to take another's life... we don't have the right to do it... but anymore? What choice do we have." You have a sudden lucid moment.
"War is in Man's nature." These happen once in a while. While usually you have trouble remembering details about your life... including what you've even said... you have these odd moments where you seem to remember something either devastating or profound.
"Sadly yes..." Mami responds. "But enough doom and gloom! Come on, let's get something to eat, hm?" You nod as she pushes a button.
You expected her to bring you to a cafeteria, some kind of kitchen or public area for something to eat, but are shocked to realize that she drags you up to, what you can only imagine, to be her personal room aboard the Mitakihara. She reads your confusion and gives you a smile.
"I hope you don't mind me cooking on the first date." She takes an apron off the hook and ties it around her waist, humming to herself. "I usually cook at least once a week... and this week's no different." She begins to turn on the small stove in the tiny little kitchen area, her body moving with the jerks and jostles of the ship, she's cooked in these conditions before, that much is apparent. "Have a seat." she offers you, nodding to a small cushion on the floor before a rather large table, which takes up most of the floorspace in the room. Getting to your knees, you straighten the school uniform-like skirt over your legs and wait patiently.
"Do you have room for me at the table, Ms. Tomoe?" A voice drolls behind you, and in reaction you turn to see who's there. Standing in the door, her tall figure powerful and imposing you spy a thin woman, possible early thirties, standing with her hands behind her back, a white suit breaking her silhoette nicely. As her hands come out from behind her back, you notice two obnoxiously large gold bracelets on her wrists, her eyes hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses.
"Quistis! Of course, have a seat! I didn't realize you came with us."
"I'm always where Ms. Kaname can reach me. You should know that by now, Ms. Tomoe." She looks over in your direction, a stare that just creeps you right out. She takes a few steps into the room and sits next to you, her eye contact never breaking. Slowly lowering herself to the seat, her lips never break their flat expression as she speaks. "You must be Ms. Kaname's new find, correct?" You nod, not wanting to dare open your mouth, in case she can suck your soul out through your mouth, or something. "She speaks very highly of you... and she does not speak highly of anyone without just reasons." She nods mechanically. "Having seen your actions today, I can see why." She offers you her hand, which you take. You can't help but think she's not being civil, just going through well-practiced motions. With a hardly noticeable shake, she retracts her hand in a fashion that seems almost in... disgust.
"My name is Quistis Black. I am the Magi Mercenary Unit's Financial Advisor. I also moonlight to the same extent for Magi's sister unit, Ultanos. Usually, I only deal with Ms. Kaname as she is your unit's leader, but occasionally I see fit to mix with the grunts."
"Please don't call us that, Quistis. You know very well that we're P-" She stops for a moment, a pair of amber eyes locking with yours for a split second. "You know very well Madoka would argue that we're grunts. We're all equal in her eyes." You can't help but think she's hiding something. Quistis' stone-like mouth curls into a short smile, which quickly fades as she continues.
"Ah, yes, of course." She looks to you and, as her head turns, you think you spy her eyes behind the glasses, red orbs of an unnatural color. "I'm sorry if I didn't catch your name." Your throat seizes as you attempt to answer her. "Juh?" She smiles in what you think is an attempt at humor. "That is quite the interesting name you have, Juh." Shaking your head to dislodge the growing lump in your throat, you finally manage out your name. "Ah... I heard of you. A wonderful name. Well... I think you and I will be spending a considerable amount of time together in the near future. You will, after all, need a contract to-"
"Tea?" You hear Mami cut in, a tea pot in her hand and a cup in the other. Her eyes deadlock with Quistis as she pours the woman tea without her answering. "Madoka discussed this with you, Quistis. You can talk to the kid when Madoka thinks they're ready. Not a moment sooner." Quistis looks at you and cracks another instant smile.
"Yes... of course. My apologies." She turns back to the offered tea and takes it. Mami returns to the kitchen, Quistis turning to you as her voice drops. "Regardless of what the others think or say... you have potential. Potential that, if unrealized... may very well result in the unraveling of everything you hold dear..." She smiles again which, as with the last two, vanish almost instantly. "...just something to think about." Mami returns with another cup of tea and sets it before you, her demeanor changed.
"I hope you like my tea, kid. It's a family recipe."
"Ms. Tomoe makes very good tea." Quistis seems to muse arbitrarily, still holding hers in her hand. You nod and agree, remembering the tea she made when you first arrived, though you had very little of it. Reaching forward, you take hold of your tea cup and give it a sip, being entirely too hot to really drink at the moment, you settle on just sipping it. Mami pours herself a cup of tea and sits at another cushion, the Mitakihara lurches suddenly, Mami and Quistis react by bracing their tea against the sudden jerk, you, however, aren't as lucky, and wind up getting a little bit of it on your leg. You give a little yelp of surprise, which causes Mami to laugh.
"I apologize about that... sometimes Hitomi has problems landing smoothy." The PA, almost as if on cue, squeals to life as the same female voice from before rings in.
"Whatever that sudden bump was... I can assure you it was totally not me clipping the top of a mountain. At all..." Despite the burning sensation in your lap, you manage a little laugh at her outward admission of clipping a mountain. The tea on your leg cools rather quickly, the slight pain subsiding as Mami slowly sips at hers, Quistis still simply holds it. You notice that she's not actually drinking any of it, but simply holds the cup and saucer in her hand. You play with the idea of asking her if she doesn't like it, but she beats you to the chase by placing the cup on the table and standing.
"I do apologize, but I must make plans to meet with Ms. Kaname and discuss... some things. I thank you for the tea, Ms. Tomoe, and I shall see you, most likely, when we return to Outreach." She bows to Mami, then turns to you and offers a similar bow. "I imagine I will be seeing more of you later. Until then, farewell." You nod as she excuses herself, leaving rather quickly. Turning you head to Mami, you blink and ask what that was all about.
"I do apologize about Quistis, kid... she can be... strange at times, but she is really good with numbers!" This seems to be dry consolidation to her, as her half-smile seems to indicate, but you simply decide to leave it where it is, nodding and taking another sip from your cup. "She handles all of our contracts so Madoka and the others can focus on our jobs..." You bring up what she said earlier that Mami seemed fit to quickly interrupt. For a split second, you see Mami's smile crack and fade, but it quickly returns. "That... is nothing you need to be concerned about at the moment." This seems more like a dismissive answer, designed to either dissuade you from asking again, or to chastise you for asking in the first place. Regardless of it's intention, you drop the subject. "When the times comes, you'll learn more but... as I told Quistis... not a moment sooner." You feel the Mitakihara slow to a stop, the distinct sounds of four fusion engines powering down a sign the dropship landed. Mami smiles as she finishes her tea, yours cool enough to make a start on it. "I need to go speak to Homura for a moment, so if you would stay here, finish your tea... and join us when you're ready. I'm sure Madoka would love to hear of our success from the one who made it possible." You nod as she leaves.
It takes you a few more minutes to finish your tea, the slightly bitter aftertaste making it slightly displeasant to finish. As you walk about the Mitakihara looking for Madoka and the others, several voices from a door catch your ear.
"...less what you may think, Ms. Kaname, the potential of your newest recruit is staggering."
"I'm aware of that, Quistis, but you remember what happened last time. I'm not having another Solaris III incident. She can handle a 'Mech, that much is undeniable. I'm more concerned how she fairs in one-on-one combat... you can't exactly drag an Atlas 'Mech into a Barrier."
"Indeed... perhaps having her spar with another of your unit? Perhaps Ms. Akemi?"
"NOT Homura. The things she told me on this mission... dammit, I'm afraid to leave the two of them alone for any period of time, I'm afraid I'll come back to find a dead rookie and a friend holding the gun... no... not Homura." Your heart sinks at this. "Kyouko'd be too hard on her and Sayaka's a bit of a pushover..."
"Ms. Tomoe?"
"I'd have to pay her to do that. You know how she likes to show off. Asking her to go easy on the kid would be like asking her to get breast reduction surgery. She'd see it as an insult... I dunno, I'll figure it out, but right now I don't need her getting killed by a W-"
"Hey newbie!" A voice shatters the others inside, causing you to jump and turn around. You see a blue-haired, blue-eyed girl waving at you, her school uniform swaying as she walks She's grinning like an idiot, her hand flailing about in the air. You blink for a moment, trying to remember which one this was... You try a name. "Ha! Nah, I'm Sayaka. Kyouko's the redhead with personal space issues." Right, right... You seem to have mixed up Sayaka and Kyouko, but she doesn't seem too insulted about it. "So how'd your first mission go?" You give her the short of it, leaving out how you only caused your target to eject, and Mami got the living hell shot out of her 'Mech. "Sounds like you had fun. Man... all Kyouko and I ever get are scout or defend missions... I'd love to get an assignment like what you had." She shakes her head as if she suddenly remembers why she was here. "Reminds me... Mami asked me to come and get you, in case you don't know where Madoka and the others meet for debriefing. Seems like you don't need my help." She walks past you to the door where the voices were coming out of earlier, and begins pounding on the steel door.
"MA~DO~KAAAAAA~!" She calls obnoxiously loud through the steel. "Debriefing ti~me!" The door opens, the to the smiling pink-pigtailed girl you met on the 'Mech Bay back on Outreach, and the strange Quistis lady from before. Qusitis seems to be standing bolt-upright by a wall, hands behind her back.
"Miki-san!" Madoka exclaims as she sees who her attacker is. "That was fast. I wasn't expecting you back so quickly after Akemi-san and I."
"Funny thing about escort missions. When no one cares about who you're escorting they tend to go pretty fast."
"I'm sorry about giving you the crap assignment again, Miki-san... but you know how much Sakura-san loves getting paid for nothing..."
"Nah, it's alright. Gave her and I plenty of time to chat." Madoka's eyes light up as she sees you.
"Hey! Our newcomer survived! That's a plus!" You ask if you should be concerned about Solaris III. "Solaris III?" She asks, her eyes darting off to the side for a split second. "Why should you be concerned with Solaris III?" Shaking her head, she ends the thought. "Anyway! I'm sure Tomoe-san and the other two are anxious to hear of our success. Come on." She slips past Sayaka, Quistis close in tow, and you and Sayaka following close behind. You follow the group to a large cafeteria-like area where you spy Mami and Homura sitting at a small table across from one another. Homura's facing the group, and you see her turn away as your eyes lock. Mami turns around and smiles.
"Madoka! Sayaka! I see you found our newcomer alright." As everyone takes a seat, you're left with only the seat next to Homura. As you approach, you watch her shift over, sitting in the middle. "Homura, stop that!" Mami chastises the raven-haired woman, who rolls her eyes and scoots back over.
"What is with you, Akemi-san? You've been nothing but sour since-"
"I don't want to talk about it." Homura answers. Madoka opens her mouth, which prompts the same answer from Homura, but harder. "I don't want to talk about it." You tap Kyouko on the shoulder and whisper in her ear, asking if you can take her spot.
"Yea sure." She answers softly shifting over to take the seat next to Homura, while you take her previously occupied spot. Having a person between you and Homura assured that there was a filter, in case she decided to go Princess Stabbity on you. Madoka still seems a bit flustered from Homura's attitude, but shakes her head and tries to regain some sense of control of the group.
"I see everyone managed to come back alive this time, too." Madoka smiles, nodding a little. "I love it when all my girls come back alive." You're not sure how you feel about being one of 'her girls' but she doesn't seem like a bad lot herself. Despite her age of nearly twenty, she still, somehow, manages to retain this air of being fifteen. You're not sure how she manages to pull it off, but damn would you love to be able to do it as well."Sakura-san, would you and Miki-san give your reports?"
"Sure." The red head, who you now know is named Kyouko, leans forward a little and clears her throat. "Sayaka and I arrived at Nav Alpha on schedule. Once there, we had an APC and it's escort 'Mechs, one Jenner and one JagerMech. We joined up with the convoy and followed them to their destination. No problems, no hitches. End of story." She leans back more as you see Sayaka nod out of your periferals.
"Sums it up pretty well. Didn't even discharge a weapon."
"Good!" Madoka claps her hands together once and turns to Mami. "Mami-san, how was your mission?"
"Couldn't have been smoother." Mami starts. "Idle threats from Terrorist 'Mechs. Threats answered with force, we're alive, they're not. The kid took down both 'Mechs and completed the mission." Madoka nods again, turning to you like she's expecting you to confirm. For a moment you consider taking what Mami had given you, but you hardly destroyed both the Salamander and Cicada. You speak up and make a point to correct Mami in the most delicate way possible, also pointing out how she also took down the Helicopter that tried to escape. Mami simply smiles and laughs. "Okay, so I embellished a little." She doesn't seem embarrassed by being caught, but you do see a little of something else, though you can't quite place it.
"Regardless, things went smoothly for you, as well. Like a well oiled machine." She paused for a moment. "Akemi-san, would you care to recount our mission?"
"Only thing left of our target is a crater." Comes her simple response. Madoka seems a bit disenfranchised by this answer, but she nods anyway.
"Thank you for the... uhm... poignant response, Akemi-san." Homura nods curtly to this. "Which brings us to our next order of business..." She turns to you and smiles, nodding. "Mami-san speaks highly of your skill and ability to act and, more importantly, react quickly. Your training record is more then justified with this, as Mami-san's praise is rare, especially how highly she spoke of you." She looks to the group. "All if favor of allowing the kid complete entrance into the Magi Mercenary Unit, raise your hand." You see five hands go up, Homura's hand stays lowered. "Akemi-san... you... don't agree?"
"No." Homura resounds quickly, not even looking at you. Madoka pauses, waiting for Homura to continue, but she never does.
"Is... there a reason for this dissension?"
"Yes." Homura speaks once more and, again, Madoka waits for embellishment.
"Are... you... going to tell us?" She stands from her seat, steps back and runs her hand through her hair, tossing it to the side carelessly.
"No." She walks out, her long raven hair chasing behind her. Madoka gives a great sigh and turns to you with apologetic eyes.
"I'm... I'm really sorry about all this, kid... Akemi-san is not usually so..."
"Aggressive?" Comes Sayaka's completion.
"Bitchy?" Kyouko chimes in at about the same time.
"Bothersome." Madoka finishes and offers you a mournful shrug. "Unfortunately, our rules stand... We can't induct you unless we have a one hundred percent yes vote... and with Homura's no vote... I can't do it." She winks to you. "Yet. Doesn't mean I can't keep you around. Like hell I'm letting Ultanos have another excellent pilot. For the time being you will remain in my employ, will be paid just like everyone else, but will not be a full member of the Magi Mercenary Unit. Until I can get Akemi-san to tell me why she's being so stubborn." You shrug, asking her what the difference is being in the unit and paid full price, and being a full member. You see Madoka visibly clam up, her lips rolling inside her mouth slightly as she tries to think. "That..." She starts, her smile quickly returning. "That's a very complicated answer. One I can neither fully explain at the time... nor could I ever think I could even understand it fully myself. Suffice to say, when the time comes, you'll know."
"Mami-san...?" Madoka continues, turning to the blonde. "Could I ask to speak with you for a moment? In my room, please?"
"Of course, Madoka." Mami responds quickly as she stands. You watch as everyone else stands and begins to stretch and move about.
"You ladies did a wonderful job today... the Barricade's Jump Engine is going to need another seven days to recharge, so just mill about and keep calm..." She looks to Sayaka, her eyes locked with the blue-haired girls for a few seconds. Sayaka turns her head to catch your eye, then turns back to Madoka and nods. What the hell was that?